Scrap ejector device



10; 1957 P. LANDMAN 2,815,868 8' SCRAP EJECTOR DEVICE r Filed umh $1955- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PAUL L'ANDMAN Filed March 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PAUL LANDMAN BY V v ATTORNEY SCRAP EJECTOR DEVICE Paul Landman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to International gigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New ersey Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,889 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to mechanisms on a cigar machine and more particularly to mechanisms on transfer devices of a cigar machine.

In conventional cigar machines, transfer grippers move portions of cigars in the process of manufacture from one operational station to another. For example, the rolling table of a cigar machine rolls a binder leaf about a bunch charge to form a cigar bunch. A transfer moves this bunch to, for example, a molding turret. In conventional machines, as heretofore used, an operator is positioned adjacent the binder die turret to hand-feed binder leaf. In the event of an imperfect bunch, as for example a bunch having no wrapper or an imperfect or bursted wrapper, scraps from the bunch charge will cling to the transfer jaws. When this occurs in conventional machines, it is a relatively simple matter for the operator adjacent the binder die turret to clear the moist scrap from the jaws. However, with the advent of continuous web tobacco binders which are automatically fed and applied to the bunch rolling table, there is no operator available to clear moist scrap from the jaws.

-It is therefore a further object of my invention to provide a means for automatically sweeping or ejecting scrap tobacco from the jaws of a transfer device of an automatic cigar machine.

The novel features which I believe to be characteritic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and operation may be understood by reference to the apparatus embodying my invention and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bunch transfer of a cigar machine equipped with a scrap ejector mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same as seen from line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bunch transfer with the stripper fingers of the scrap ejector mechanism in raised position;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the bunch transfer and ejector mechanism; taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the path or motion of the bunch transfer;

Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation of the bunch transfer taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is another sectional end elevation of the same taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the bunch transfer 10 shown is similar in construction to the transfer F of Fig. 1 of the patent to Halstead 2,443,453, issued June 15, 1948. The transfer 10 as shown in Fig. 4 receives a bunch in the position '1, moves to the position 11 adjacent a bunch moistener and then back to the posi tion lI-l where the moistened bunch is removed by the jaws 12 and 14 of another suitable transfer. In addition to the motion shown in Fig. 4, there is a sidewise dis placement of the transfer 10 so that its path of travel in moving from position I to position H is different than the return from position 11 to position I. The operating means for these motions are not a part of this inven- Patented Dec. 10, 1957 'ice tion, but may be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3 of the above-mentioned Halstead patent, the sidewise motion being affected by longitudinal movement of the pivoted shaft 16 here-of corresponding to shaft 26 of the above-mentioned Halstead patent.

The shaft 16 carrier an arm or lever 18 supporting a shaft 20 to which is attached two pairs of cooperating jaws 22 and 24 which grip and support the cigar bunch B delivered from the rolling table R at the position I. Since the operation of these jaws form no part of this invention reference is again made to the aforesaid Halstead patent.

Adjustably mounted on shaft 20 (Figs. -1, 2 and 3) are the brackets 26 and 28. A lug 32 (34) is pivotally supported on bracket 26 (28) by a pivot pin 30 (31). A scrap stripper finger 36 is mounted on each of the pivoted lugs 32 and 34 so that rotation of the lugs moves the stripper fingers from the base of the jaws 22, 24 upwardly and outwardly to sweep scraps from jaws 22, 24. Lug 32 has an extension 38 having a curved knob or body portion 39. A stationary spherical cam lug 40 is secured to an adjustable bracket 41 (Fig. 1) secured to a frame portion of the rolling table. During the forward motion of the transfer 10 from position I to position 11 the knobbed extension 38 by-passes without contacting the spherical cam lug 4t) and no action occurs (Fig. 1). During the return stroke from position III to position I the knobbed extension 38 contacts cam lug 40 and effects (Fig. 3), a rotation of the bracket 32 about its pivot 30 resulting in an upward snap of stripper finger 36, the different path of forward and return motion being caused as before mentioned by longitudinal movement of shaft 16 by suitable means not shown. Such means may be seen and understood by reference to the aforesaid Halstead patent.

A link 42 is pivotally attached at its one end to the bracket 32 at a point below the pivot 30 and at its other end to the bracket 34 but above the pivot pin 31. Any rotational motion of the bracket 32 is transmitted by the link 42 to the bracket 34 causing an equivalent but reverse motion of the bracket 34. The stripper fingers 36 are maintained in the resting position as shown in Fig. 1 by a tension spring 44 anchored atits one end to a bracket 46 secured on shaft 20 and at its other end to a hole 48 in link 42.

From the foregoing description it may be readily understood that my invention utilizes the existing motion of the transfer 10 to obtain its stripper action. During the forward feed of the transfer arm because of the axial longitudinal movement of the shaft 16, the operating arm 38 does not contact the cam lug 40 and there is no motion, the stripper fingers being held in lower position by spring 44. However, on the return motion from position III to position I the knobbed extension 38 contacts the knobbed cam lug 46 causing an abrupt and rapid snap upwardly and outwardly of the fingers 36 to clear away scrap tobacco that may be in the jaws 22, 24 prior to the reception of the next bunch B. A snapping action is necessary because the moist tobacco particles will adhere to fingers 36 if they move in a slow sweeping motion. The return of the fingers 36 would in that case re-deposit the scrap on the jaws 22, 24.

1 claim:

1. -In a transfer of the type employed in a cigar machine and having gripper jaws, scrap stripper fingers pivotally secured to the transfer and operative to move in a rapid sweeping action along said gripper jaws to clear said jaws of scrap material, means movable to operate said stripper fingers, and a stationary cam lug positioned to contact said movable means during one movement of said transfer to move said movable means to operate said scrap stripper fingers.

2. In a transfer of the type employed in a cigar machine and having gripper jaws, scrap stripper fingers pivotally secured to the transfer and operative to move in a rapid sweeping action along said gripper jaws to clear said transfer of scrap material, means movable to operate said stripper fingers, yielding means to yieldably retain said stripper fingers in one position, and a stationary cam lug positioned to contact said movable means during one movement of said transfer to move said movable means to operate said scrap stripper fingers.

3. In combination with a transfer operative to transfer a cigar portion from one working station to a successive station, said transfer reciprocating to and fro between said stations along different paths, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping motion to clean said transfer, an operating lever to move said stripper finger, a stationary cam lug positioned in one path of transit of said reciprocating transfer, said stationary cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action, and turn said stripper fingers to their said operating lever the travel of said transfer.

4. In combination with a transfer operative to transfer a cigar portion from one working station to a successive station, said transfer reciprocating to and fro between said stations along different paths, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping motion to clean said transfer, an operating lever to move said stripper finger, and a stationary cam lug positioned in one path of transit of said reciprocating transfer, said stationary cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action.

5. In combination with a transfer mechanism having gripper jaws to transfer an object from one place to another, a stripper finger mounted on said transfer and movable to a raised position to strip at least one of said gripper jaws, an operating lever connected to said stripper finger to move it, said operating member having a curved body portion, a steeply curved stationary cam lug positioned in the path of movement of said curved body portion when it moves with said transfer, said steeply curved cam lug contacting said curved body portion of said operating member to move it with a rapid snapping motion, and yieldable means to move said stripper fingers to their starting position when said curved body portion has passed said cam lug during the movement of said transfer.

In combination with a transfer mechanism having gripper jaws to transfer an object from one place to another, a stripper finger mounted on said transfer and movable to a raised position to strip at least one of said gripper jaws, an operating lever connected to said stripper finger to move it, said operating member having a curved body portion, and a steeply curved cam lug positioned in the path of movement of said curved body portion when it moves with said transfer, said steeply curved cam lug contacting said curved body portion of said opera-ting member to move it with a rapid snapping motion.

7. In combination with a transfer having a shaft, and gripper jaws mounted on said shaft, a stripper finger member, means to pivotally mount said stripper member on said shaft for movement of said stripper member in a sweeping motion along at least one of said gripper jaws, yieldable means to hold said stripper finger member in an initial resting position, a lever operatively connected to yielding means to reresting position when has passed said stationary cam lug inv said stripper finger to move said stripper finger member against said yielding means from said resting position in said sweeping motion, a curved body portion on said lever, and a stationary cam lug positioned in the path of travel of said curved body portion of said lever during the transit of said transfer, said cam lug when contacted by said curved body portion during said transit imparting a rapid snapping motion to said lever to move said stripper finger member in said sweeping motion with a snapping action.

8. in combination with a transfer operative to transfer a tobacco article from one working station to a successive station, said transfer moving through a defined path, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping motion to clean said transfer, an operating memoperatively connected to said finger to so move it, a cam lug positioned in the path of travel of said transfer when it is empty, said cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action, and yieldable means to return said stripper fingers to their rest position when said operating lever has passed said stationary cam lug in the travel of said transfer.

9. In combination with a transfer operative to transfer a tobacco article from one working station to a successive station, said transfer moving through a defined path, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping motion to clean said transfer, an operating member operatively connected to said finger to so move it, and a cam lug positioned in the path of travel of said transfer when it is empty, said cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action.

10. In combination with a transfer jaw operatively movable to and fro in an are about a pivot, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping action to clean said transfer, an operating lever to move said stripper finger, a stationary cam lug positioned in the path of transit of said transfer, said pivot being longitudinally movable to a different position during the movement of said transfer in one direction, said stationary cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action during the transit of said transfer in the other direction, and yieldin means to return said stripper fingers to rest position when said operative lever has passed said stationary cam lug in the travel of said transfer.

11. In combination with a transfer jaw operatively movable to and fro in an arc about a pivot, a stripper finger operatively mounted to move with a snapping action to clean said transfer, an operating lever to move said stripper finger, and a stationary cam lug positioned in the path of transit of said transfer, said pivot being longitudinally movable to a different position during the movement of said transfer in one direction, and said stationary cam lug being operative to contact and move said operating lever to operatively move said stripper fingers in a snapping action during the transit of said transfer in the other direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,631,760 Rinker June 7, 1927 1,740,575 Clausen Dec. 24, 1929 2,277,690 Clausen Mar. 31, 1942 2,443,453 Halstead June 15, 1948 

